US Forest Service to Move Headquarters to Salt Lake City, UT

On Tuesday, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will relocate the Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of a broader restructuring aimed at aligning leadership more closely with western forests and communities.

The agency said the move reflects a shift toward a more field-oriented structure, noting that much of its land base, partnerships, and operational challenges are concentrated in the US West.

As part of the reorganization, the Forest Service will transition to a state-based model designed to push decision-making authority closer to on-the-ground operations. The new structure will include 15 state directors overseeing activities across one or more states, with responsibility for forest supervisors, operational priorities, and coordination with state, tribal, and local partners. Each state office will include a small support team focused on legislative affairs, communications, and intergovernmental coordination.

USDA said the changes are intended to simplify the chain of command, strengthen local partnerships, and give field leaders greater ability to respond to conditions on the ground.

In remarks accompanying the announcement, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said:

“Establishing a western headquarters in Salt Lake City and streamlining how the Forest Service is organized will position the Chief and operation leaders closer to the landscapes we manage and the people who depend on them. This includes supporting our timber growers across the country, including those in the Southeast by prioritizing a regional office and promoting policies that boost timber production, lowering costs for consumers. In the past year we have returned the Forest Service to the leading forestry and fire management organization in the world. Proper forest management means a healthy and productive forest system that provides affordable, quality lumber to build homes right here in America and it means preserving and protecting the beautiful landscapes we are blessed with across this great country.”